White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Egyptian Epic AIDA Marches Into Westchester Broadway Theatre Jan 26

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Westchester Broadway Theatre's Allan Gruet. January 23, 2006: Westchester Broadway Theatre is proud to present for the first time on our stage, a diverse cast of actors, in our own production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida.” Like many musical projects today, it can often take years for a musical to actually reach its Broadway opening. “Aida” was no exception.

PYRAMID TRIANGLE! Passion. Desire. Forbidden liaisons twist in torment in the shadows of the Pyramids on the WBT Stage. AIDA opens Thursday at WBT in Elmsford, starring Stephanie Youell as Princess Amneris, left, Eric Sciotto as Radames, and Rozz Morehead-Santos as AIDA, the Nubian Princess. Photo, Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre by John Vecchiolla.

The story of “Aida” is based on the tragic legend that inspired Giuseppi Verdi to write his Opera of the same name. Beyond that, the musical has an entirely different sensibility, along with a number of plot changes.

The musical adaptation of “Aida” is a passionate love story that blends perfectly with a contemporary and soaring score by Elton John. Elton is one of our generation’s most talented composers and performers, and “Aida” is a wonderful example of how pop music and musical theatre can be combined to create a powerful theatrical experience.

Some of the more popular songs from the show are “Every Story Is a Love Story,” “My Strongest Suit,” Easy As Life,” Written In the Stars,” “Elaborate Lives,” “Enchantment Passing Through,” “A Step Too Far.”

“Aida” is a story filled with romance, conflict, and rebirth. The musical centers on the strength of love, with all its compelling and healing powers. It transcends class and race, and in the end love can conquer all. Elton’s intention was to simply create the music for a very strong love story between two people who were willing to die for their love.

Rozz-Morehead-Santos as the Nubian Captive, AIDA. Eric Sciotto as her captor, Egyptian, Radames. Photo, Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre by John Vecchiolla

The central character of “Aida” is Nubian princess who is captured by Radames, an Egyptian captain. After a long period of an on-going war with Egypt’s deadly enemy Nubia, Radames is called back to the Egyptian court.

He decides to bring Aida with him as a present to his betrothed, the beautiful Egyptian Princess Amneris, to become one of her personal slaves. During the course of the musical, Radames who is unaware of Aida’s true identity, that of a Nubian princess, proceeds to fall in love with her.

The old Pharaoh is very ill and about to die. Radames has been pledged to the Princess Amneris and their union will ultimately make him the next Pharoah.

The rivalry for Radames affection between the two princesses is the conflict that ultimately causes Amneris to condemn Radames and Aida as traitors.

They are sentenced to death and are buried alive together in a tomb. Aida and Radames pledge to find each other in another world…and somewhere beyond the next bend of the Nile, there is another world, just waiting to be discovered!

Westchester Broadway Theatre’s production will star Rozz Morehead-Santos as Aida, Eric Sciotto as Radames, Stephanie Youell as Amneris, John Schiappa as Zoser, Eric Jackson as Mereb, Carla Woods as Nehebka and J. Bernard Calloway as Amonasro. The Production is Directed & Choreographed by Patricia Wilcox, with Musical Direction by David Andrews Rogers; Set design is by George Puello, Costume design by Gail Baldoni, Hair/Wig Design by Gerard Kelly, Lighting design by Andrew Moser, and sound design by Jon Hatton.

Elton & Tim began working on “Aida” in 1994. Six years later, after a several work shops, out of town tryouts in Atlanta and Chicago, and the release of a concept album featuring major pop stars, “Aida” opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in March of 2000. The show ran in New York for over four years, playing 1852 performances, winning four Tony Awards, and the original cast album won a Grammy Award. The U.S National Tour scheduled from April to September of 2002 was extended twice. International productions have been mounted in the Netherlands, Estonia, Japan, and Germany.

Following “AIDA” will be-